As part of a redevelopment program for a leisure centre in the Midlands, Fastline Steel Services was approached to supply the fencing to enclose a brand new all-weather synthetic football pitch being added to the site.
To secure the new facility and to keep any balls from escaping the play area, a 4.5m high 868 twin wire fencing system was specified, along with a section of 1.2m high spectator railings to provide a designated area for spectators to enjoy the action.
For the main perimeter fencing around the football pitch Fastline supplied their Fastmesh-868RB system.
The Fastmesh-868RB is a ball court variant of the standard Fastmesh-868 twin wire fencing system. Also know as rebound fencing, the 868RB system includes extra horizontal wires in the bottom 1.2m of the panel to provide more durability against regular ball impacts.
The perimeter fencing around the football pitch was installed to a height 4.5m around the entire perimeter, totalling over 300m of fencing.
The height was made up from 2nr standard panels stacked against full height in ground posts. The panels used were 3030mm high 868 twin wire rebound panels with a 1430mm high 868 panels on top.
Fitted with full length clamp bars and EPDM noise reducing washers, the 868RB system provides a secure perimeter to protect the sports pitch from intrusion and vandalism, while preventing the balls from straying to far from the occasional wayward strike.
The layout included recessed goal ends to allow the 11 vs 11 goalposts to be pushed away from the goal lines when the pitch is being used for smaller 7-a-side or 5-a-side matches.
Also included were 3m wide double leaf maintenance vehicle access gates, and 1.2m wide single leaf pedestrian access gates.
For the spectator area, Fastline supplied their patented Fastmesh-SPX spectator handrail system.
Spectator handrail provides a physical barrier between the players and the spectators to improve the safety and experience for all involved.
The SPX system provides a top handrail made from 48mm diameter tube fixed above a 1m high 868RB mesh panel which protects spectators and keep balls from escaping the pitch.
The system also includes a plastic capping strip to fit to the top of the 868 panels to cover the ends of the wires for a safe and smooth finish.
The Fastmesh-SPX spectator rail is a unique system designed to be easy to install, and to be easy to swap out the handrail and panel should repairs be required.
The SPX posts include a laser-cut slot running down from the top of the post which allows the handrail tubes to be dropped in and secured with the press-in top cap, meaning the posts can be installed, then the handrails dropped in afterwards at the end of the install.
This is an advance beyond traditional systems which have welded spigots on the posts, which have to be installed 1nr post then 1nr rail at a time. This traditional system means posts need to be broken out of the ground to replace any damaged handrails.
